PRISONERS OF WAR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11687, 2 May 1916, Page 5

PRISONERS OF WAR.

AUCKLAND'S INTERNMENT CAMP. GERMANS ON EDENIC ISLAND. . An island set in the bluest of seas, fringed with smooth beaches and crowned with gc.ntly rising hilltops, green fields, and long rows of sheltering trees; that is the first impression tho visitor gets of Motuihi, loveliest of all the islands of the Hauraki Gulf, says tho New Zealand Herald. Formerly Auckland's quarantine sta* tion, Motuihi Island is now an intern-, ment camp for German prisoners ot war. The first hint of military occupation is the appearance of a sentry on the wharf; the visitor's credentials proving satisfactory, he is allowed to follow the road cut in the cliffs, and so passes up a smooth driveway lined with handsome trees and' shrubs, and comes ta the barracks set high on a green hill. top. A tall flagstaff rises near the gateway at the entrance to the barrack vard, and the Union Jack blows; straight out against the blue sky. That is the first point one notices. Immediately in front are two welllighted, two storeyed buildings, the prisoners' quarters, and between them is a small but very important building, tho guard house. Down the well kept road which slopes back to tho beach are tho commandant's quarters, a cottage occupied by the ex-Governor of Samoa, Dr Schultz, and another belonging to the caretaker. The military, barracks lie a few hundred yards down another slope of the hill. Amid most beautiful surrounoings, granted every liberty and concession compatible with their position, German prisoners at Motuiiii are spendin <r their days until such time as peace shall be 'declared. There are at present forty-three men interned there, divided into first and second-class groups, with seventeen in the first and. twentv-six in tho latter. A nice dis- £ tinction' is maintained between the two, the ''casto" element being strong. Tho first group comprises prominent Gorman officials from Samoa and civilians of social standing. Tlifl second includes a number of men formerly connected with Samoan offices, and eleven naval cadets, whose escapade in deserting their ship, the Alsace. at Pango-Pango, will be well re-< membered. These lads travelled eighty miles in an open boat to Apia, under the impression that the Germans had retaken Samoa, but- a rude shock awaited their young optimism, for, oa their arrival, they wero promptly:" taken prisoners. None of the* prisoners are called on to do any work, other than keeping their quarters in ord'er, or helping to discharge stores at the wharf, and only the second-class prisoners do even this; When the camp was visited one bright morning recently, when a score of men in swimming—and swimming vory veil —others were strolling along the pleasant beach track, alert for any feature of interest that might break the day's monotony, and tho rest ware up at the barracks, smoking, reading or writing. Judging by appearances, Motuihi might have been some pleasant- and not too crowded seaside resort. Certainly, there were kce,u-eyod sentries and patrols somewhere up there on the hills and cliffs, but tbey gave no sign of their presence. Shortly after midday the men passed up the road to their quarters, for the most part at thoroughly healthy-looking, sturdy lot. sun-browned, clear-eyed, showing plainly the effects of their rigidly . simple life and invigorating, if pulmrv. acquaintance with sea brecaerA sua bathing and sunshine. . , \